News Article

NJ Gay Advocates Plan Legal Action After DOMA Defeat

By Monica Miller, WBGO News
Newark. June 26, 2013

The Defense of Marriage Act may have been shot down by the US Supreme Court. However, it’s a bittersweet moment for some gay advocates and couples.

It’s a monumental decision according to the Executive Director of Garden State Equality.

“Same-sex couples in 13 states, now with California and the District of Columbia, have the 1,138 rights and privileges that opposite sex couples have been afforded.”

But Troy Stevenson says in New Jersey,

“We’re trapped in a second-class status of civil union.”

New Jersey is one of seven states that offer gay couples the legal protection of marriage, but doesn’t recognize their nuptials.

“Love is love. It’s time that our country recognize that. The majority of our citizens do. Our Supreme Court does. Now it’s time for New Jersey to do the same.”

Lawyers in a case to legalize same-sex marriage in the state say they now intend to make a new court filing. A spokesman for the state attorney general's Office says he would not comment on the impact of the US Supreme court’s decision.

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